Dual winter Paralympian Victoria Pendergast, two-time Olympic race walker Rhydian Cowley and ParaMatilda Carly Salmon were among 17 athlete ambassadors who delivered more than 140 sessions to schools Australia-wide.

The athletes tasked students with a challenge in sport before working together to build a sustainable and accessible sports hub for participants or athletes.

Australian rower and World Cup medallist Lucy Coleman said delivering the program to grade six students at Abbotsleigh School in regional New South Wales was a highlight.

“Students were incredibly curious and enthusiastic about the process,” Coleman said.

“The challenge I presented to students was the decline in sports participation and its impact on local sports clubs. I asked students to reimagine this scenario and design a new sports complex or high performance environment for their community.

“The goal was to create a space that not only attracts young people to engage in sport but also inspires the next generation of athletes to represent Australia.”

The free six-week program weaved in lessons in science, humanities, arts and economics while exposing students to all the opportunities sport offers.

“It’s important for students to see that it’s possible to make a career out of their passion, whether that’s in sport or another field,” Coleman said.

“Growing up, making a career of your sporting passion was never really spoken about and so I think it’s great that we can normalise the conversation through this program.”

Most importantly, Coleman said, the program teaches kids how to navigate challenges through working together.

“Problem-solving is a constant throughout our lives and it’s critical that students develop the strategies and confidence to tackle tough challenges.

"I’ve faced plenty of challenges in rowing…recovering from injuries, managing setbacks, handling under-performance and making sacrifices have become second nature to me.”

The program was designed in partnership with Nestlé who have been working alongside the AIS since 1991 to promote health education for children.

The program will undergo a revamp in 2025 and in the meantime, schools can check out other opportunities to connect with athletes here: Community Engagement | Australian Institute of Sport